Pneumatic programming means and the like

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a program member that is rotated relative to a reading head to fluidly interconnect together various ports interrupting the reading surface of the reading head by a timer motor and that is rapidly rotated relative to the reading head by a pair of pneumatically operated actuators to override the timer motor with such overriding actuators being controlled by the program member itself, the disclosure also relating to a selector valve being mounted on the same plate that forms the reading head and to various shapes and combinations of channel means formed in the program member for interconnecting various ports of the reading head together.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Roland D. Beck [56] References Cited m UNITED STATES PATENTS $312:- 1,055,092 3/1913 Smith 137/6252] [21] P 1 968 1.542.004 15/1925 Renshaw .1 l37/625.21X [22] f". S N 437 69 4 1965 2.079.041 5/1937 Ryan. 137/6252] grai y 3.074431 1/1963 Schwartz. l37/625.46X Patented Feb, 1, 3,2l6,326 ll/l965 Rice 1 l37/624.2X [73] Assignee Robertshaw Controls Company Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Richmond, Va. Attorneys-Auzville Jackson, Jr., Robert L. Maruen and a corporation of Delaware Candor, Candor & Tassone ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to a program member that is rotated relative to a reading head to fluidly interconnect together various ports interrupting the reading surface of the reading head by a timer motor and that is rapidly rotated [54] F H PROGRAMMING MEANS AND THE relative to the reading head by a pair of pneumatically 7C] 7D operated actuators to override the timer motor with such rawmg overriding actuators being controlled by the program member [52] U.S.Cl. 137/624.l8; itself, the disclosure also relating to a selector valve being 91/36 mounted on the same plate that forms the reading head and to [5]] Int. Cl. G05b 19/44 various shapes and combinations of channel means formed in [50] Field of Search l37/624.l8, the program member for interconnecting various ports of the 624.2, 625.1 1;9 1/36 reading head together.

1 127 w m SELECTOR DISC fififiiie lio 17 1:1

H ws lrmc AGENT w ENSER 1 HEATER PATENTED FEB 9:97: 3,561,486

sum 3 BF 4 JNVENTORS ROLAND D. BECK HAROLD W. RICE THEIR ATTORNEY PNEUMATIC PROGRAMMING MEANS AND THE LIKE This application is a divisional patent application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 43 7,l69, filed Mar. 4, 1965, now US. Pat. No. 3,417,663 and is assigned to the same assignee to whom the parent application is assigned. This invention relates to an improved pneumatic programming means wherein a system for an appliance or the like can be pneumatically controlled.

In particular, this invention provides a programming means which is a small compact unit while still providing a large member of system functions or operations in a manner heretofore unattainable in the prior art.

For example, one feature of this invention is to provide pneumatic steppers for rapidly advancing a main program member in a direction overriding the conventional timer motor therefor to simply and effectively eliminate portions of the program of the program member as selected. The stepping unit is relatively small in size and can utilize essentially the same space as the timer motor whereby the programming means of this invention is kept relatively small.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a selector valve arrangement for selecting the desired program of the main program member with the selector valve utilizing the same program plate as the main program member.

Another feature of this invention is to optimize blister shapes and combinations in the main program member to reduce the size requirements of the program member and, hence, the programming means itself.

Another feature of this invention is to provide means for mounting the various pneumatically operated switch actuators on the program plate itself to reduce the size of the switch assembly for the appliance or the like.

Accordingly, is an object of this invention to provide an improved programming means having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of the this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein: 7

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the improved system of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the sequence of operation of the system illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the improved programming means of the this invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the programming means of FIG. 3 and is taken on line 44 thereof.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4 and illustrates the reading heads for the main program member and the selector valve member.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIG. 4 and illustrates the blister arrangement on the program tape for the main program member.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described as illustrated as being particularly adaptable to provide a miniature programming means for a dishwasher or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be used singly or in any combination thereof to provide programming means for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the em bodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an improved system for controlling the operation of a domestic dishwasher is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and will now be described.

The system 10 includes a conventional electrical motor 11 adapted to be placed across leads L, and L in a manner hereinafter described so that when the electrical switch means 12 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a movable switch blade 13 bridges contacts 14 and 15, the motor 11 will operate the impeller of the dishwasher. However, when the switch structure 12 has the switch blades thereof pulled downwardly upon the evacuation of a vacuum-operated actuator 16 and the switch blade 13 is disposed in the position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 1, the motor 11 operates a drain pump in the dishwasher for a purpose hereinafter described.

A reading head 17 is schematically illustrated in FIG. I and has the reading surface 18 thereof interrupted by a plurality of ports 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. 33 and 34 for a purpose hereinafter described. The ports 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 are disposed in vertical alignment while the port 20 is disposed in horizontal alignment with the vertically aligned port 21, the port 24 being horizontally aligned with the vertically aligned port 23, the port 27 being horizontally aligned with the vertically aligned port 26, the ports 29 and 31 being horizontally aligned with the vertically aligned port 30 and the port 33 being horizontally aligned with vertically aligned port 32 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The reading head 17 illustrated in FIG. I is an integral part of a plate member 35 illustrated in'FIGS. 3,4 and 6. The plate 35 has the surface 36 thereof provided with a plurality of grooves 37 leading from various parts of the surface 36.

For example, the groove 37 leads from a point 39 on the plate 35 to a point 40.

After all of the grooves have been formed in the surface 36 of the plate 35, a self-sealing tape member 38 or the like is superimposed on the surface 36 of the plate 35 to cover the grooves 37. However, the tape member 38 has openings passing therethrough and aligned with the grooves 37 in such a manner that the openings in the tapelike member 38 define the ports 19-34 previously described whereby the surface of the tape 38 in the region of the ports 19-34 provides the reading surface 18 previously described.

The tape 39 38 cooperates with the plate 35 to define another reading surface 41 as illustrated. in FIGS. 6 and 1 and is defined by a circular groove 42 interconnected to the inlet of a vacuum pump 43 by groove means 44 interconnected to a nipple 45 carried by the plate 35 and interconnected to the pump fluid by flexible conduit means 46.

The tape 38 defines a plurality of ports 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 with the'ports 48, 50, 52 and 54 each being in fluid communication with the vacuum source groove 42 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The port 47 of the reading head 41 is interconnected to the port 19 of the reading surface 18 by the groove 55. The port 49 of the reading surface 41 is interconnected to the port 23 of the reading surface 18 by a groove 56. The port 51 of the read ing surface 41 is interconnected to the port 24 by a groove 57. The port 53 of the reading surface 41 is interconnected to the port 25 of the reading surface 18 by a groove 58.

The port 20 of the reading surface 18 is interconnected to a vacuum-operated actuator 59 by groove means 60, nipple means 61 and flexible conduit means 62. The port 21 of the reading surface 18 is interconnected to a vacuum-operated actuator 63 by a groove means 64, nipple 65 and flexible conduit means 66.

The port 22 of the reading surface 18 is interconnected by groove means 67, nipple means 68 and flexible conduit means 7 0 to a vacuum-operated actuator 71 which when in an at- 'mas sfifieaaaruoneafiss' a valve member 721 6 interconnect the flexible conduit 73 to a flexible conduit 74. However, when the actuator 71 is evacuated, the valve member 72 is moved to the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 1 to prevent communication between the conduits 73 and 74, the conduit 74 leading to the vacuum source conduit 46 while the conduit 73 is interconnected to the ports 28 and 34 of the reading surface 18 by groove means 75 and nipple means 76.

Port 26 of the reading surface 18 is interconnected to the vacuum-operated actuators 16 by means of groove 77 leading to a port 78 passing through the plate 35 and being interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 16 mounted thereon as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The port 27 of the reading surface 18 is interconnected by groove means 79, nipple means 81 and flexible conduit means 82 to a chamber of a vacuum-operated actuator 83, the actuator 83 being interconnected to a flexible switch blade 84 placed in the line L,.

The switch blade 84 is adapted to bridge the switch contacts 85 and 86 when the lid handle 87 of the dishwasher is rotated in a clockwise direction to start the operation of the dishwasher. However, when the actuator 83 is evacuated in the manner hereinafter described, the blade 84 is pulled further downwardly to the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 1 whereby the lid handle returns to its off position but the contacts 85 and 86 are still bridged by the blade 84 because of the evacuated actuator 83. Subsequently, when the actuator 83 is returned to atmospheric conditions, the switch blade 84 can be moved to the open position to turn off the system in a manner hereinafter described.

The port 30 of the reading surface 18 is interconnected to a vacuum-operated actuator 88 by groove means 89, nipple means 90 and flexible conduit means 91, the actuator 88 being adapted when evacuated to operate a water fill valve 92 for the dishwasher and, when returned to atmospheric conditions, to close the valve 92.

The port 29 of the reading surface 18 is interconnected by groove means 93, nipple means 94 and flexible conduit means 95 [O a vacuum-operated actuator 96 which controls the dispensing of the detergent into the dishwasher when the actuator 96 is evacuated.

The port 31 of the reading surface 18 is interconnected by groove means 97, nipple means 98 and flexible conduit means 99 to a vacuum-operated actuator 100 which is adapted to dispense a wetting agent into the dishwasher when the actuator 100 is evacuated.

The port 32 of the reading surface 18 is interconnected to a vacuum-operated actuator 101 by groove means 102 leading to a port 103 in the plate 35 and interconnected to the chamber of a vacuum-operated actuator 101 mounted on the plate 35 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. The actuator 101 is interconnected to the switch blade 13 to bridge the contacts 14 and when the actuator 101 is evacuated and to return the switch blade 13 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 when the chamber of the actuator 101 is returned to atmospheric conditions.

The port 33 in reading surface 18 is interconnected by groove means 104 to a port 105 in the plate 35 to be interconnected to the chamber 106 of a vacuum-operated actuator 107 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. The actuator 107 includes a flexible diaphragm 108 interconnected to a switch blade 109 normally holding contacts 110 and 111 in contact with each other. However, when the chamber 106 of the actuator 107 is evacuated, the diaphragm 108 is pulled downwardly to break electrical contact between the contacts 110 and 111 until atmospheric conditions again exist in the chamber 106.

The contacts 110 and 111 when bridged by the switch blade 109 places a timer motor 112 across the leads L, and L, for a purpose hereinafter described.

In addition, the timer motor 112 is adapted to be placed across the leads L, and L by a there there thermostatically controlled normally open switch blade 113 which will bridge contacts 114 and 115 when the thermostat senses a certain temperature in the dishwasher whereby the timer motor 112 will be placed across the leads L, and L even if the switch blade 109' is opened at this time.

A program means 116 is adapted to be rotated relative to the reading surface 18 and comprises a rigid backing plate 117 rotatably mounted to the plate 35 by shaft means 118, the plate means 117 being interconnected to a flexible reading sheet 119 and being spaced therefrom by a porous resilient material 120.

The backing member 117 has an annular ring gear means 121 disposed in meshing relation with a pinion gear means 122 rotatably mounted to the plate 35 and being it interconnected to a shaft 123. The shaft 123 is interconnected by means of a one-way clutch to the output shaft of the timer motor 1'12 carried by the plate 35.

The shaft 123 also carries a pinion gear 124 fixed thereto whereby the pinion gear 124 a can rotate the pinion gear 122 at a rate faster than the motor 112 for a purpose hereinafter described because the motor 112 is interconnected to the shaft 123 by a one-way clutch which permits such overriding movement of the pinion 124 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The reading sheet 119 of the program means 116 has a plurality of open ended channels or blisters 125 formed therein in the pattern illustrated in FIG. 7 and also has a plurality of aperture means 126 passing therethrough, the aperture means 126 either comprising small holes or elongated channels interrupted by a hole for a purpose hereinafter described.

The reading sheet 119 illustrated in FIG. 7 is adapted to be superimposed on the reading surface 18 illustrated in FIG. 6 with the reading sheet 119 being rotatable in a clockwise direction to perform the sequence of the operation of the system 10 in a manner hereinafter described. However, in viewing FIG. 1, the reading sheet moves relative to the reading surface 18 from right to left as fully illustrated in FIG. 2 to produce the functions hereinafter described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, and another program member 127 is provided and comprises a backup member 128 rotatably mounted to the plate 35 by shaft means 129 manually rotated by a selector knob 130. The backup member 128 is interconnected to a reading sheet 131 and is separated therefrom by a porous resilient material 132, the reading sheet 131 having a plurality of open ended blisters 133 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

The selector knob has an indicator 134' which is adapted to be disposed in the positions marked with D, N, H, S, P, and C in FIG. 1.

When the selector knob 130 is disposed in the position H, the blisters 133 thereof do not interconnect together any of the ports of the reading surface 41. When the selector knob 130 is disposed in the position N, the port 51 is interconnected to the port 52. When the knob 130 is disposed in the position S, the ports 53 and 54 are interconnected together by a blister 133. When the knob 130 is disposed in the position P, the ports 47 and 48 are interconnected together by a blister 133.

When the knob 130 is disposed in the position C, the ports 47 and 48 are interconnected by a blister 133 and the ports 49 and 50 are interconnected by a blister 133. When the knob 130 is disposed in the position D, the ports 49 and 50 are interconnected together by a blister 133.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, some of the blisters 125 of the reading sheet 119 are long and narrow for only bridging vertically aligned ports in the reading surface 18 while other of the blisters 125 are dog-legged or angled to at a certain times interconnect some of the vertical ports with some of the horizontally disposed ports in the reading head 18 for a purpose hereinafter described. Further, certain of the blisters 125 in the reading sheet 119 comprise a plurality of narrow vertical blisters interconnected together by a wide horizontal blister superimposed therein to perform functions in a manner hereinafter described.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, each actuator 59 and 63 comprises a fixed cup-shaped member 134 carried by the plate 35 cooperating with a flexible diaphragm 135 to define a chamber 136 therebetween, the flexible diaphragm 135 being urged to its out" position as illustrated in FIGS. 5 by a compression spring 137 disposed in the chamber 136.

Each diaphragm 135 is interconnected to a link 138 rotatably mounted on the shaft 123 by a connecting rod 139. Each link 138 carries a ratchet or pawl finger 140 adapted to mesh with the teeth on the pinion gear 124 and rotate the pinion gear 124 in a program member advancing direction when the particular actuator 59 or 63 is evacuated. However when that evacuated actuator returns to atmospheric condition, the respective pawl 140 thereof moves back to a position to perform a new bite when that particular actuator is again evacuated.

The blisters 125 on the reading sheet 119 are so constructed and arranged that when the selector knob 130 determines when the actuators 59 and 63 are to be operated, the actuators 59 and 63 operate in an alternate manner by having the vacuum interconnected to one of the actuators 59 and 63 while an aperture means in the program sheet 119 interconnects the atmosphere to the other actuator so that the actuator 59 and 63 operate in an alternate manner to rapidly advance the program member 116 relative to the reading surface 18 at a speed faster than the timer motor 112 to eliminate various functions in a manner hereinafter described.

The operation of the system and the various features 2 of this invention will now be described.

The operator of the dishwasher 10 grasps the knob 130 and selects the desired performance for the dishwasher 10. For example, if the operator moves the selector knob 130 to select the H position thereof for a heavy wash, it can be seen that no ports of the reading surface 41 are interconnected together by the blisters 133 of the program tape 131 whereby the dishwasher will accomplish the complete cycle set forth in FIG. 2.

Thereafter, the operator rotates the lid handle 87 in a clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 1 to cause the switch blade 84 to bridge the contacts 85 and 86 to not only place the vacuum pump 43 across the leads 1. and 1. but also to the timer motor 112.

Since the program sheet 119 is disposed at the 0 position illustrated in FIG. 7 and will rotate in a clockwise direction upon the operation of the timer motor 112, it can be seen from FIG. 2 that the blisters 125 of the program sheet 119 alternately interconnect the ports 23 and 24 to the ports 20 and 21 while alternately interconnecting the atmosphere to the ports 21 and 20 by aperture means thereof so that the stepper actuators would rapidly advance the program means 116 if a vacuum source is interconnected to the port 23 by the selector knob 130 being disposed in the D position thereof for drying only or if a vacuum source is interconnected to the port 24 by the selector knob 130 being disposed in the N position thereof for normal operation only.

At the minute increment of movement of the program sheet 119, blister means interconnect together the port 28 to the port 30 whereby the inlet of the vacuum pump 43 is interconnected to the actuator 88 to cause the actuator 88 to open the water valve 92 and direct water into the dishwasher for approximately a 1-minute increment.

After the minute and a half interval as illustrated FIG. 2, aperture means 126 in the program member 119 interconnects the atmosphere to the port 30 to permit the water valve 92 to close. However, other blisters means interconnect the ports 32 and 34 together whereby the vacuum pump 43 is interconnected to the actuator 101 to cause the switch blade 13 to bridge the contacts 14 and andpermit the motor ll to operate the impeller of the dishwasher to cause a first rinsing operation for an interval of approximately 1 minute. Thereafter, aperture means of the program member 119 returns the actuator 101 to atmospheric condition so that the blade 13 moves to the position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 1.

Simultaneously, other blister means of the program member 119 interconnect the ports 28 and 26 together so that the inlet of the vacuum pump 43 is interconnected to the actuator 16 to cause the same to pull the switch 12 in its down position to cause the motor 11 to operate the drain pump to drain the water from the dishwasher.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, an L-shaped blister 125A moves across the reading surface 18 to not only bridge the vertically aligned ports 28 and 30 but also the horizontally aligned port 29 so that the vacuum source 43 is interconnected to the actuator 38 and the actuator 96 so the that when the water valve 92 is opened, the actuator 96 dispensed detergent into the dishwasher in preparation for the first wash thereof.

Thus, it can be seen that the dog-legged blisters in the program member 119 are adapted to not only interconnect together the vertically aligned ports of the reading head 17 but also certain of the horizontally aligned ports with certain of the vertically aligned ports to perform the two functions as previously described.

Thus, it can be seen that when the selector knob 130 is disposed in the H position thereof for heavy washing operation, the entire cycle of operation illustrated in FIG. 2 is accomplished without having the stepper actuators 59 and 63 operated as no vacuum is interconnected to the ports 23 and 24 by the selector program'member 131.

However, if a vacuum would be interconnected to one of the ports 23 or 24 or to both, it can be seen that the blister arrangement on h the program member 119 would be to alternately interconnect the vacuum source to the steppers 59 and 63 to rapidly advance the program member 119 throughout the desired distance thereof in an overriding manner over the motor 112 to eliminate functions as set forth in FIG. 2.

During the rapid advance of the program member 116, it can be seen that the blister means which interconnects the ports 23 or 24 to the ports 20 and 21 would also interconnect with the port 22 whereby the vacuum source would operate the actuator 71 and move the valve 72 to the dotted line position so that the vacuum pump 43 would not be interconnected to the ports 28 and 34 so that no operation would take place as blister means interconnect the ports 28 and 34 to other ports during the rapid advance of the program means 116.

As fully illustrated in FIG. 7, it can be seen that certain of the blisters comprise dog legs and the like wherein the same are substantially L-shaped, C-shaped, E-shaped and the like. Further, it can be seen that certain of the blisters of the reading sheet 119 include a plurality of narrow, vertical, spaced blisters interconnected together by a wide horizontal blister superimposed thereon. For example, see blister 1258 wherein three vertical, spaced, narrow blisters are interconnected together by a wide horizontal blister superimposed thereon to define a substantially E-shaped blister 125B.

By forming the blisters in the irregular shapes as illustrated in FIG. 7, the program means of this invention can be made relatively small.

For example, dog-legged blisters, such as 125A, can have the vertical portion thereof to control repetitive, accurately timed operations while the horizontal portion is used for onetime operations such as for dispensers.

The wide blister superimposed on the narrow blisters, such as blisters 125B, permit the narrow blisters to interconnect together vertically aligned ports while the wide superimposed blister thereof connects together angularly disposed ports vention, various program combinations can be created. For

example, ports 47 and 49 of the reading head 41 separately provide prewash and dry" only rapid advance signals to the steppers 59 and 63. However, when combined by the control knob being disposed in the cancel" position thereof, they permit the rapid advance step actuators S9 and 63 to completely rapidly advance the program member to its off position regardless of the position of the program means 116.

The rapid advance stepping actuators 59 and 63 can omit functions normally operated by the reading sheet 119. For example, when port 53 of the reading head 41 is interconnected to the port 54, the second wash and rinse operation as illustrated in FIG. 2 are omitted and at the increment 31 on the program member as illustrated in FIG. 7 the thermal delay provided by the timer switch port 33 to the actuator 107 is bypassed by the rapid advance action of the steppers 59 and While grooving has been disclosed as a means for interconnecting together various ports on the reading head surface, it is to be understood that dog-legged blisters in the reading sheet 119 can be utilized for such purposes whereby the face tape 38 could be eliminated.

By mounting the various switching actuators, contacts and blades on the program plate 35 in the manner illustrated in F I68. 3 and 4, it can be seen that a plurality of functions can be accomplished in a minimum of space which would normally be required just for the program means itself.

Therefore, it can be seen that an improved programming means and parts thereof have been provided by this invention.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. In combination, a reading head having a reading surface interrupted by a plurality of ports, certain of said ports being vertically aligned and another port being horizontally aligned with one of said vertical ports whereby said other port and said one port comprise a pair of horizontally aligned ports, a pneumatic source interconnected to at least one of said ports other than said pair of horizontally aligned ports, a program member movable relative to said reading surface and having open ended channels therein for interconnecting together certain p ts and having aperture means for interconnecting a the atmosphere to certain of said ports, a pair of actuators operatively interconnected to said program member for alternately moving said program member as said actuators are alternately actuated by being interconnected to said source, and means interconnecting said pair of horizontally aligned ports respectively to said actuators whereby certain of said channels of said program member can alternately interconnect a pneumatic source port to said pair of horizontally aligned ports leading respectively to said actuators as said program member moves relative to said reading surface.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein an aperture means of said program member sequentially comes into alignment with said pairs of horizontally aligned ports.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein certain of said channels in said program member are angled.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein a second reading head is provided with a reading surface interrupted by a plurality of ports, certain of said ports of said second reading head being interconnected to certain ports of said first-named reading head to form pneumatic source ports thereof. means interconnecting said source to other of said ports of said second reading head, and a second program member for selectively interconnecting a source port of said second reading head to a certain port thereof to determine which port of said first-named reading head will be a source port for operating said pair of actuators.

5. In combination, a plate means having a first reading surface and a second reading surface each interrupted by a plurality of ports, a first movable program member carried by said plate means and having means to interconnect certain ports of said first reading surface together, a second movable program member carried by said plate means and having means to interconnect certain ports of said second reading surface together a port of said second reading surface being interconnected to a port of said first reading surface by a groove in said plate means, and a tape means covering said groove and having apertures therein definingsaid ports.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plate means carries a timer motor moving said first program member relative to said first reading surface.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second program member is manually movable real relative said second reading surface.

Port 26 of the readings surface 18 is interconnectedto the,

vacuum-operated actuators 16 by means of groove 77 leading to a port 78 passing through the plate 35 and being interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 16 mounted thereon as illustrated in FIG. 3. 

1. In combination, a reading head having a reading surface interrupted by a plurality of ports, certain of said ports being vertically aligned and another port being horizontally aligned with one of said vertical ports whereby said other port and said one port comprise a pair of horizontally aligned ports, a pneumatic source interconnected to at least one of said ports other than said pair of horizontally aligned ports, a program member movable relative to said reading surface and having open ended channels therein for interconnecting together certain ports and having aperture means for interconnecting a the atmosphere to certain of said ports, a pair of actuators operatively interconnected to said program member for alternately moving said program member as said actuators are alternately actuated by being interconnected to said source, and means interconnecting said pair of horizontally aligned ports respectively to said actuators whereby certain of said channelS of said program member can alternately interconnect a pneumatic source port to said pair of horizontally aligned ports leading respectively to said actuators as said program member moves relative to said reading surface.
 2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein an aperture means of said program member sequentially comes into alignment with said pairs of horizontally aligned ports.
 3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein certain of said channels in said program member are angled.
 4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein a second reading head is provided with a reading surface interrupted by a plurality of ports, certain of said ports of said second reading head being interconnected to certain ports of said first-named reading head to form pneumatic source ports thereof, means interconnecting said source to other of said ports of said second reading head, and a second program member for selectively interconnecting a source port of said second reading head to a certain port thereof to determine which port of said first-named reading head will be a source port for operating said pair of actuators.
 5. In combination, a plate means having a first reading surface and a second reading surface each interrupted by a plurality of ports, a first movable program member carried by said plate means and having means to interconnect certain ports of said first reading surface together, a second movable program member carried by said plate means and having means to interconnect certain ports of said second reading surface together a port of said second reading surface being interconnected to a port of said first reading surface by a groove in said plate means, and a tape means covering said groove and having apertures therein defining said ports.
 6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plate means carries a timer motor moving said first program member relative to said first reading surface.
 7. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second program member is manually movable real relative said second reading surface. Port 26 of the readings surface 18 is interconnected to the vacuum-operated actuators 16 by means of groove 77 leading to a port 78 passing through the plate 35 and being interconnected to the chamber of the actuator 16 mounted thereon as illustrated in FIG.
 3. 